EXAMPLE: OBTAIN AN 8-MM SPOT AT 80 M

Using the CVI Melles Griot HeNe laser 25 LHR 151, produce a spot 8 mm in
diameter at a distance of 80 m, as shown in figure 2.16
The CVI Melles Griot 25 LHR 151 helium neon laser has an output beam
radius of 0.4 mm. Assuming a collimated beam, we use the propagation
formula
to determine the spot size at 80 m:
or 80.6-mm beam diameter. This is just about exactly a factor of 10 larger
than we wanted. We can use the formula for w
0
(optimum) to determine the
smallest collimated beam diameter we could achieve at a distance of 80 m:
F
u
n
d
a
m
e
n
t
a
l

O
p
t
i
c
s
G
a
u
s
s
i
a
n
B
e
a
m

O
p
t
i
c
s
O
p
t
i
c
a
l

S
p
e
c
i
f
i
c
a
t
i
o
n
s
M
a
t
e
r
i
a
l

P
r
o
p
e
r
t
i
e
s
O
p
t
i
c
a
l

C
o
a
t
i
n
g
s
Lens Selection
www. cvi mel l esgri ot. com
2.13 Gaussian Beam Optics
Gaussian Beam Optics
The most important relationships that we will use in the process of lens
selection for Gaussian-beam optical systems are focused spot radius and beam
propagation.
Focused Spot Radius
where w
F
is the spot radius at the focal point, and w
L
is the radius of the
collimated beam at the lens. M
2
is the quality factor (1.0 for a theoretical
Gaussian beam).
Beam Propagation
and
where w
0R
is the radius of a real (non-Gaussian) beam at the waist, and
w
R
(z) is the radius of the beam at a distance z from the waist. For M
2
1,
the formulas reduce to that for a Gaussian beam. w
0
(optimum) is the
beam waist radius that minimizes the beam radius at distance z, and is
obtained by differentiating the previous equation with respect to distance
and setting the result equal to zero.
Finally,
where z
R
is the Raleigh range.
w
fM
w
F
L

l
p
2
(2.33)
w z w
z M
w
R z z
w
z M
R R
R
R
R
( ) +
j
(
,
\
,
(
,

,
,
]
]
]
]
( ) +
0
2
0
2
2
1 2
0
2
1
1
l
p
p
l
/
and
22
2
j
(
,
\
,
(
,

,
,
]
]
]
]
w
zM
0
2
optimum ( )
l
p
1/2
z
w
R

p
l
0
2
0.8 mm
45 mm 80 m
8 mm
Figure 2.16 Lens spacing adjusted empirically to achieve an 8-mm spot size at 80 m
We can also utilize the equation for the approximate on-axis spot size
caused by spherical aberration for a plano-convex lens at the infinite
conjugate:
This formula is for uniform illumination, not a Gaussian intensity profile.
However, since it yields a larger value for spot size than actually occurs,
its use will provide us with conservative lens choices. Keep in mind that
this formula is for spot diameter whereas the Gaussian beam formulas are
all stated in terms of spot radius.
w
zM
0
2
optimum ( )
l
p
1/2
w( ) .
. ,
.
80 04 1
06328 10 80000
04
3
2
2
1
m
-
+

( )
j
(
,
,
\
,
(
(
,

,
,
,
]
]
]
]
]
p
// 2
40.3-mm beam radius
spot diameter (3 -order spherical aberration)
f
rd

( )
0067 .
/#
f
33
w
0
3
1 2
06328 10 80000
40 optimum

mm. ( )

j
(
,
\
,
(

. ,
.
/
p
and
2ch_GuassianBeamOptics_Final.qxd 6/15/2009 2:55 PM Page 2.13
In order to determine necessary focal lengths for an expander, we need
to solve these two equations for the two unknowns.
In this case, using a negative value for the magnification will provide us with
a Galilean expander. This yields values of f
2
55.5 mm] and f
1
45.5 mm.
Ideally, a plano-concave diverging lens is used for minimum spherical
aberration, but the shortest catalog focal length available is -10 mm.
There is, however, a biconcave lens with a focal length of 5 mm (LDK-5.0-
5.5-C). Even though this is not the optimum shape lens for this application,
the extremely short focal length is likely to have negligible aberrations at this
f-number. Ray tracing would confirm this.
Now that we have selected a diverging lens with a focal length of 45 mm,
we need to choose a collimating lens with a focal length of 50 mm. To
determine whether a plano-convex lens is acceptable, check the spherical
aberration formula.
Clearly, a plano-convex lens will not be adequate. The next choice would
be an achromat, such as the LAO-50.0-18.0. The data in the spot size
charts indicate that this lens is probably diffraction limited at this f-number.
Our final system would therefore consist of the LDK-5.0-5.5-C spaced
about 45 mm from the LAO-50.0-18.0, which would have its flint element
facing toward the laser.
This tells us that if we expand the beam by a factor of 10 (4.0 mm/0.4 mm),
we can produce a collimated beam 8 mm in diameter, which, if focused at
the midpoint (40 m), will again be 8 mm in diameter at a distance of 80 m.
This 10#expansion could be accomplished most easily with one of the
CVI Melles Griot beam expanders, such as the 09 LBX 003 or 09 LBM013.
However, if there is a space constraint and a need to perform this task with
a system that is no longer than 50 mm, this can be accomplished by using
catalog components.
Figure 2.17 illustrates the two main types of beam expanders.
The Keplerian type consists of two positive lenses, which are positioned
with their focal points nominally coincident. The Galilean type consists of
a negative diverging lens, followed by a positive collimating lens, again
positioned with their focal points nominally coincident. In both cases, the
overall length of the optical system is given by
and the magnification is given by
where a negative sign, in the Galilean system, indicates an inverted image
(which is unimportant for laser beams). The Keplerian system, with its
internal point of focus, allows one to utilize a spatial filter, whereas the
Galilean system has the advantage of shorter length for a given magnification.
F
u
n
d
a
m
e
n
t
a
l

O
p
t
i
c
s
G
a
u
s
s
i
a
n

B
e
a
m

O
p
t
i
c
s
O
p
t
i
c
a
l

S
p
e
c
i
f
i
c
a
t
i
o
n
s
M
a
t
e
r
i
a
l

P
r
o
p
e
r
t
i
e
s
O
p
t
i
c
a
l

C
o
a
t
i
n
g
s
www. cvi mel l esgri ot. com
Gaussian Beam Optics
Gaussian Beam Optics 2.14
Keplerian beam expander
f1 f2
Galilean beam expander
f1
f2
Figure 2.17 Two main types of beam expanders
overall length + f f
1 2
magnification
f
f
2
1
f f
f
f
1 2
2
1
50
10
+

mm
and
.
The spot diameter resulting from spherical aberration is


m
The spot diameter resulting from d
0067 50
625
14
3
.
.
.

m
iiffraction (2 ) is

m
w
0
3
2 06328 10 50
40
5
( . )
.
.

p
m
References
A. Siegman. Lasers (Sausalito, CA: University Science Books, 1986).
S. A. Self. Focusing of Spherical Gaussian Beams. Appl. Opt. 22, no. 5 (March
1983): 658.
H. Sun. Thin Lens Equation for a Real Laser Beam with Weak Lens Aperture
Truncation. Opt. Eng. 37, no. 11 (November 1998).
R. J. Freiberg, A. S. Halsted. Properties of Low Order Transverse Modes in
Argon Ion Lasers. Appl. Opt. 8, no. 2 (February 1969): 355-362.
W. W. Rigrod. Isolation of Axi-Symmetric Optical-Resonator Modes.Appl.
Phys. Let. 2, no. 3 (February 1963): 51-53.
M. Born, E. Wolf. Principles of Optics Seventh Edition (Cambridge, UK: Cam-
bridge University Press, 1999).
and
The spot diameter resulting from spherical aberration is
The spot diameter resulting from diffraction (2w
o
) is
2ch_GuassianBeamOptics_Final.qxd 6/15/2009 2:55 PM Page 2.14